Buckle.



T. F. MOLLOY.

BUCKLE.

APPLICATION I'ILBD SEPT 22, 1913,

1,089,854. Patented Mar. 10, 19M

llhlft'lljE @TAES PATENT 'FFEQE.

THOMAS E. MOLLOY, OF WEST HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

Patented Mar. 1.0, 1914:.

Serial No. 791,113.

BUCKLE.

1,689,854. Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed September 22, 1913.

To all coho m it may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS F. MoLLor, a citizen of the United States, residing at \Vest Haven, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Buckles; and I do hereby declare the following, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the characters of reference marked thereon, to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, and which said drawings constitute part of this application, and represent, in"

Figure l a top or plan view of a buckle constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 a side view of the same. Fig. 3 a view in vertical longitudinal section with the clamping-piece in the retired position. Fig. 4. a similar section showing the free end of the strap engaged with the buckle 5. Fig. 5 a plan view of the plate, detached. Fig. 6 a sectional view on the line a-Z) of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 a perspective view of the clamping-piece detached.

This invention relates to an improvement in buckles, and particularly to buckles of the slide type commonly used for belt buckles but applicable for other purposes.

The object of this invention is to provide simple means for retiring the lever when it is desired to attach or detach the strap, and the invention consists in the construction hereinafter described and particularly recited in the claims.

In carrying out my invention, I force the buckle with a back-plate 2 which, if desired, may have a rear extension 3 for attachment of the fixed end 4 of the plate strap, although this last feature forms no part of this invention. In the plate 2 a slot 17 is formed extending on two sides and across the end, leaving a spring tongue 5, and the plate at the inner end of this tongue is bowed outward forming a chamber or recess 6 in the inner face of the plate 2. Attached to the plate is a housing 7 formed on opposite sides with notches 8 and 9 through which finger-pieces 10 and 11 of a clamp 12 project. This clamp is formed with gripping edges 13 and 14 and is slightly bowed longitudinally and formed in its under face with knobs or bosses 15. \Vhen the clamp moves rearward, it drops into the chamber or recess (5 and gives clearance for the entrance or removal of the free end 16 of the strap. hen the strap is inserted the clamp 12 is moved forward, riding out of the chamber or recess (3 and the strain upon the strap tends to draw the clamp forward, and as it moves forward the ends 13 and Lt are crowded against the inner face of the strap and clamp it against the inner face of the housing 7. The spring-finger also acts to crowd the clamp against the strap when in the locked position, and the knobs or bosses l5 reduce friction between the clamp and the spring-finger 5. The parts are so constructed that the clamp is free to rock within the housing and. so as to readily compensate straps of dilierent thicknesses.

I claim 1. A buckle comprising a back plate, a housing connected therewith, openings in opposite sides of the housing, a clamping piece within the housing and formed on oppositc sides with lingers extending through the openings in the sides of the housing and formed with outwardly turned gripping edges, the back-plate formed with an integral spring finger extending into the path of the clampingpiecc and also formed with a pocket into which the clamping piece may be retired.

2. A buckle comprising a back-plate formed with a spring-fingor and a recess, a housing connected with the back-plate and formed on opposite sides with notches, a clamping-piece within the housing and formed on opposite sides with fingers extending through the notches in the housing, said elampii piece formed with gripping ends and in its under face with knobs bearing upon said spring-finger, said clamping piece adapted to be retired into said recess.

In testimony whereof, I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

THOMAS F. MOLLOY.

\Vitnesses )rms. A. Minion, LnoN MoLLoY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

